Egypt gets new judges
Panel to hear trial of 43 activists accused of stoking unrest
CAIRO: Egypt has appointed new judges to hear the trial of 43 democracy workers, days after six Americans among those charged left the country with nearly Us$5mil (Rm15.02mil) in bail posted, the state-run news agency reported.
The Middle East News Agency said the first hearing in the new trial will take place on Thursday.
The announcement came as US officials described the American-Egyptian relationship as “strong” and said that Washington would help Cairo to support the efforts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to conclude an economic reform package, in a sign that the worst crisis in the two countries’ relationship in decades was on the mend.
It also came as parliamentarians and lawmakers threatened to take action against Egypt’s ruling military council for allegedly circumventing the rule of law by striking a backdoor deal with Washington to allow US citizens to escape justice.
The 43 civil society workers, who included 16 Americans with the rest being Egyptians and other nationalities, had been accused of stoking unrest with foreign funding.
Seven of the Americans had a travel ban imposed on them. All but one of them left Egypt after the US posted bail and the ban was lifted.
The US had said the decision about whether their return should their appearance at court be demanded was up to each individual.
State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said in a statement that the NGO issue was a matter of serious continuing concern for the United States, but affirmed that relations with Egypt are “strong”.
“Despite the recent strains, and differences on certain issues, the fundamentals of this strategic relationship remain strong,” she said.
She said the United States continues to support the efforts of the IMF to conclude an economic reform program with Egypt.
The country is seeking a loan agreement for over Us$3bil (Rm9.06bil), a much-needed financial boost amid the ongoing economic crisis.
The case against the democracy groups brought Us-egyptian relations to their lowest level in decades, with American lawmakers threatening to withhold the country’s Us$1.5bil (Rm4.53bil) aid package.
The sudden turn-around, including the swift lifting of the travel ban following extensive Us-egyptian negotations, had sparked public anger against the ruling military council.